How to use C’È and CI SONO in Italian!

How “c’è” and “ci sono”are used in Italian? What does they mean? If you are not sure, watch this lesson until the end and we are sure you will have no more doubts! 😆

C’È and CI SONO: meaning and use

C’Èand CI SONOare expressions that indicate the presence of something or someone in a given place.

C’Èis used with a singular subject

Example:

Oggi c’è il sole. (There’s sunlight today)

CI SONO is used with a plural subject.

Example:

Nella macedonia ci sonomolti frutti. (In the fruit salad, there are many fruits)

The same expressions can be used in the interrogative form and in the negative form:

INTERROGATIVE FORM: You only need to change the intonation of your voice

Example:

C’è il sole oggi? (Is there sunlight today?)

Ci sono ancora i formaggi nel frigo? (Are there cheeses in the fridge?)

NEGATIVE FORM: NON + c’è / ci sono

Example:

Nonc’èil sole oggi. (There isn’t sunlight today)

Nonci sono più i formaggi. (There are no more cheeses)

N.B.

Ci sono ancora i formaggi? (Are there still cheeses?)

When we use the word “ancora” in questions, we want to point out that for a certain amount of time we knew that something (or someone) was in a certain place; with the question we want to know if it is still in that place.

Ci sono ancora i formaggi? →For a certain period of time the cheeses were here. Are they still here, in this moment?